Form constricting and molding garment



Nov. 6, 1945.

F: A. COHEN 2,388,525

FORM GONSTRICTING AND MOLDING GARMENT Filed July 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRANK CI- (one-1v 48 z wm" 915% T.

AT ORNEY F. A. COHEN 2,388,525

FORM CONSTRICTING AND MOLDING GARMENT Filed July 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 82 FRANK A. COHEN V ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1945 FORM CONSTRICTIN G AND MOLDING GARMENT Frank A. Cohen, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 23, 1943, Serial No. 495,811

12 Claims.

This invention relates to form constricting and molding garments such as foundation garments, corsets, corselets, girdles, bathing suits and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a garment of the characterdescribedhaving an improved control panelwhich secures a maximum resilient and constrictive effort for the quantity of elastic material employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control panel of this type which will effect an excellent local symmetrical molding of the body andcan thus be used at either the front or rear of a garment or in both such positions.

, A further object of the invention is to provide an improved garment of the character described 'which is durable, comprises relatively few and simple parts and is economical to manufacture.

, Other objects of the invention willin part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application for Foundation and like garments, Serial No. 358,113, filed September 24, .1940.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possible embodiments of this invention, and wherein like numbers refer to like parts throughout,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a corset embodying my invention as it appears when worn, a portion thereof being broken away to illustrate the construction and location of the inner layer of a control panel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inside view of the corset as it appears when doffed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a corset embodying a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is another view similar to Fig. 2 of a corset embodying another modified form of theinvention.

In general I accomplish the principal object of the present invention by providing a control panel which comprises two superimposed layers whose overlying portions are of equal widths and shapes although the layers need not be of similar heights. The side edges of the overlying portions are registered and attached to each other. One of the layers has a vertically extending area of flexible elastic material adjacent one side edge ofthe panel and an edge of this areamay itself constitute a side edge of the said layer. The other layer also has a vertically extending area of flexible elastic material which, however, is adjacent the other side edge of the control panel. This area too may have one edge thereof constitute a side edge of the control panel. The elastic areas each make up a minor portion of the layers of which they form a part. The remaining portion of each layer consists of a vertically extending area of flexible inelastic material which constitutes a major portion of the layer. The elastic and inelastic areas may be so arranged that the elastic areas do not overlap each other.

By virtue of the foregoing construction, the

elastic area in each layer eltheroverlies or underlies an inelastic area in the other layer so that when the control panel is stretched an inelastic area moves in a direction opposite to that in which I the opposed elastic area moves and, since the control panel is curved in use, this relative motion is opposed by frictional rubbing of the superimposedlayers. As, in accordance with the invention, the layers are of equal width, this friction comes into immediate play to increase the controleffected' by the panel, lessen the strain imposed upon the elastic areas, and afford maximum control for the quantity of elastic material employed. F A i Further pursuant to the present invention the elastic areas are of equal widths at the same horizontal levels, the expression of equal widths being employed herein in this limited sense. Equal widths of the elastic areas create a maximumvalue of frictional contact between the rubbing, oppositely moving surfaces, of the superimposed layers, equally distribute the strain between the two elastic areas, and obtain a maximum stretch of the control panel for the quantity -of' elastic material employed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, 10 denotes a corset having control panels H, H embodying my invention located at the front and rear of the garment. l

The control panels are connected to each other in suitable fashion to form a body encircling sheath. To this end, a flexible intermediate fabric strip 1 B may be employed-to interconnect one pair of adjacent side edges of the control-panels l2, l4 and two flexible intermediate strips 18, 20 used to connect the remaining side edges. These latter strips 18, 2-9 have vertically extending rows of rapidly attachable and detachable means, such as hooks 22 and eyes 24, secured to matching edges thereof to serve as a convenient means for donning the garment. The garment may also be provided with the usual accessory parts such as a brassiere section 26, shoulder straps 28 and garter straps 30.

The front control panel l2 comprises an outer layer 32 and an inner layer 34. The outer layer includes a vertically extending area of flexible inelastic material 36 such as plain woven cloth. This area may be cut out along its lower edge to form a notch which is covered by a gusset .38 of porous material in a manner conventional in the' art. The outer layer 32 also has a vertically extending strip 40 of flexible elastic material as, for example, rubber, lastex or any woven or knitted fabric which includes strands of a resilient material, like rubber, extending circumferentially of the garment. One edge of the elastic stripis secured to the adjacent edge of the inelastic strip 36 by a line of stitching 42. The other edge of the elastic strip forms one of the side edges of the outer layer 32.

The inner layer 34 likewise includes a vertically extending area of inelastic flexible material 44, such as a strip of cloth, and a vertically extending area of elastic material, such as a strip 46 of lastex. The region of the inelastic strip backing up the gusset 38 may be cut out so as not to obstruct this porous area. One edge of the elastic strip 46 is sewed to a matching edge of the inelastic strip 44 of the inner layer by a row of stitching 48. The other edge of the elastic strip 46 forms a side edge of said inner layer. This edge is secured to the registered side edge of the outer layer 32 and the matching edge of the intermediate strip 16 by a row of stitching 50. The other side edge of the inner layer 34 is secured to the registered side edge of the outer layer 32 and the matching edge of the intermediate strip by a row of stitching 52.

If desired, the control panel l2 may be stiffened by incorporation of a plurality of stays 54 enclosed in vertically elongated pockets 56 at the rear of the two inelastic strips 36, 44. As is conventional in the art, these stays terminate short of the bottom edge of the brassiere section 26.

The elastic strips 40, 46 in the outer and inner layers 32, 34 are of equal widths and each consists of a minor portion of said layers. These strips are located right at the Side edges of the layers so that they cannot overlap each other at the middle of the control panel. Such arrangement causes the rear elastic strip 46 to underl e the front inelastic strip 36 and the rear inelastic strip 44 to underlie the front elastic strip 46. Additionally, portions of the two inelastic strios 36, 44 are superimposed to increase the area of frictional contact. Furthermore, the outerand inner layers 32, 34 are of equal widths and shapes so that they will yield simultaneously when the control panel is stretched.

It may be mentioned that, because the foregoing construction causes strain to be equally divided between the outer and inner layers and because the elastic strips in each layer are of equal widths, the two layers have similar degrees of rigidity imparted thereto and will thus obtain maximum frictional rubbing contact when the control panel is stretched. This makes certain that the elastic is employed to its best advantage.

It should also be noted that owing to the use of elastic areas of equal widths the control panel exerts a highly symmetrical molding and con- .edges and the use of an additional strip of inelastic flexible material 58 in the back control .panel to connect the area 60 of elastic material in the inner layer 62 to a side edge of said layer.

The balance of the inner layer 62 is made up of an inelastic flexible strip 64. The outer layer 66 of the rear control panel l4 consists of an inelastic flexible strip 68 and an elastic flexible strip 10.

As in the front control panel l2, the elastic areas 60 and III are of equal widths and the outer and inner layers 66, 62 are of equal width and shapes.

It will be appreciated that spacing the elastic area 66 of the inner layer '62 a short distance from the adjacent side edge of this layer does not materially detract from the efficient use of the elastic areas, but merely renders the control panel effectively equal in width to a control panel terminating at the edge of the elastic area 60 secured to the inelastic strip 58.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of the invention in which the garment 12 includes only a front control panel l2. This panel is constructed in a manner identical to that of the control panel [2 illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3, although it will be understood that variations in the shapes and widths of the several strips constituting said panel may take place without going beyond the spirit or scope of my invention. Similar primed reference numerals have, therefore, been applied to similar parts.

The rear portion 14 of the garment 12 may be fashioned in any suitable manner well known to the art and is conveniently shown as consisting of but a single inelastic strip 16.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a garment 86 embodying another modified form of the invention in which only a rear control panel I4 is employed. This panel is likewise similar in all respects to the rear control panel l4 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and like primed reference numerals have been employed to indicate like parts, although, as in the case of the panel l2, many modifications thereof may be incorporated without departing from the spirit of the invention. In said garment the front section 82 is conventional.

It will thus be seen that I have provided various garments which achieve the several objects of this invention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention I and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A form constricting and molding garment I of the character described comprising a body encircling sheath having a control panel which in cludes an outer layer and an inner layer of equal widths and shapes superimposed on one another, the side edges of the layers along their entire length being registered and attached to each other, one of said layers having a vertically extending area of flexible elastic material adjacent one sideedge of the panel, and the other of said layers having a vertically extending area of flexible elastic material adjacent the other side edge of the panel, said elastic areas being of equal widths, the remaining portions of each layer comprising a vertically extending area of flexible inelastic material which constitutes a major part of the layer whereby the elastic area in the outer layer overlies the inelastic area in the inner layer and the elastic area in the inner layer underlies the inelastic area in the outer layer and friction immediately opposes opposite movement of the curved superimposed contacting layers.

2. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elastic areas of the control panel are so arranged that they do not overlap centrally of said panel.

3. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control panel is disposed at the front of the garment.

4. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control panel is disposed at the rear of the garment.

5. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein control panels are disposed at both the front and rear of the garment.

6. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein an edge of one of the elastic areas forms a side edge of the layer of which it is a part.

'7. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein an edge of each of the elastic areas forms a side edge of the layer of which it is a part.

8. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein a control panel is disposed at the front of the garment and another control panel is disposed at the rear of the garment, and wherein the side edges of said control panels are spaced apart.

9. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein a control panel is disposed at the front of the garment and another control panel is disposed at the rear of the garment, and wherein the rear control panel extends further circumferentially of the garment than the front control panel.

10. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein a control panel is disposed at the front of the garment and another control panel is disposed at the rear of the garment, and wherein the rear control panel extends circumferentially of the garment substantially 180 and the front control panel extends circumferentially of the garment less than 180.

11. A form constricting and molding garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein a control panel is disposed at the front of the garment and another control panel is disposed at the rear of the garment, and wherein the garment is split vertically at a flank thereof and rapidly attachable and detachable means is provided to secure the matching edges of the split portion to each other.

12. For use in a garment of the character described, a control panel which includes an outer layer and an inner layer superimposed on one another and of equal widths and shapes, the side edges of the layers being registered and attached to each other, one of said layers having a vertically extending area of flexible elastic material adjacent one side edge of the panel, and the other of said layers having a vertically extending area of flexible elastic material adjacent the other side edge of the panel, the remaining portions of each layer comprising a vertically extending area of flexible inelastic material which constitutes a major part of the layer whereby the elastic area in the outer layer overlies the inelastic area in the inner layer and the elastic area in the inner layer underlies the inelastic area in the outer layer and friction immediately opposes opposite movement of the curved superimposed contacting layers, said elastic areas being of equal widths.

FRANK A. COHEN. 

